Baby born on ferry to Seattle

Published 3:10 pm Thursday, November 29, 2012

The ferry M/V Tacoma had to break out its “Baby on Board” sticker when an unexpected passenger arrived Thursday.

A baby was born onboard the Tacoma during the 1:10 p.m. sailing from Bainbridge to Seattle Thursday. Ferry officials report that baby Lucy and her mother were healthy and doing well when they were transferred to medics at Coleman Dock.

Ferry crews knew they had special passenger on board when they cast off out of Eagle Harbor.

“Someone called in ahead of time and alerted us for the 1:10 p.m. ferry to Seattle, that there was a woman who was having contractions close together,” said Marta Coursey of the Washington State Ferries. “We loaded her in her vehicle in the front of the vessel.”

Ferry crews had their fingers crossed that the baby could wait until they reached the other side. She didn’t.

“En route she went into labor and our crews went and got her into a wheelchair and brought her up to the first aid room,” Coursey said.

The ferry crews had an OBGYN kit on hand. The captain of the Tacoma made an announcement on the ship’s loudspeaker asking for passengers who could assist with the delivery to step forward.

As luck would have it, an OBGYN and a midwife were traveling on the sailing. The two volunteers were able to deliver the baby before the Tacoma arrived in Seattle.

Subsequent ferry sailings were slightly delayed by the emergency.